Chess in Gangtok
The second edition of Jigdel Denzongpa Memorial State Level Chess Tournament 2018 underway at Gangtok. Image - Northeast Now

The second edition of Jigdel Denzongpa Memorial State Level Chess Tournament 2018 was started at SDF Bhawan hall in Gangtok on Saturday.

A total of 261 players, mostly students of different schools, from different parts of the State, have participated in the tournament.

The four-day long tournament is being organised by Sikkim Chess Association. The tournament is based on Swiss League System of nine rounds.

The inaugural function of the tournament was attended by the Principal Secretary to Social Justice, Empowerment and Welfare Department, K Srinivasulu as the Chief Guest while Secretary to Sports & Youth Affairs was present as the Guest of Honour.

The inaugural function was also attended by family members and friends of late Denzongpa.

In his inaugural address, the Chief Guest congratulated SCA for working for the promotion and development of the chess in the State.

He also expressed his happiness on maximum participation of young children in the tournament.

While mentioning that chess was a mind game and a good mental exercise, Srinivasulu encouraged young children to play continuously with hard work and with dedication to be successful in the days to come.

He stated that the chess was also helpful for the improvement in studies. He also urged the players to bring laurels to the State and the country in the future. He also expressed his best wishes to all participants in the tournament.

The Guest of Honour, Dhakal stated that chess was a wonderful game for children and which helps students in improving their concentration and thinking. He encouraged young children to play chess with dedication.

Chief Arbiter of the tournament, Dharmendra Kumar, encouraged young participants to play with an aim to emerge as rated players of the State who have been doing well in the regional and national levels.

He also congratulated Sikkim players for giving their outstanding performance in every tournament outside the State. He also lauded the consistent efforts and hard work of SCA general secretary Mahendra Dhakal in bringing Sikkim chess to this level.

SCA general secretary Dhakal stated that SCA has conducted this tournament for the second consecutive time in the memory of Jigdel Denzongpa, who was a very good State player and promoter of chess in Sikkim.

He also thanked the family members and friends of late Denzongpa for their support to the tournament. He informed that the cash prize of the tournament is being sponsored by the batch mates of late Denzongpa of 1987 to 1991 batch of MREC, Jaipur.

The inaugural function was followed by the commencement of games in the tournament. The prize distribution ceremony of this four-day long tournament will be held on October 2. Cash prizes will be provided to top 20 players of the tournament and top five in each age category will be awarded with trophies. The tournament has age categories of U-7, U-9, U-11, U-13 and U-15 boys and girls.

Sagar Chhetri is Northeast Now Correspondent in Gangtok. He can be reached at: [email protected]